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Hillwalking in Winter

Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Essentials page for basic information on the skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

Users' reports

As well as reading our description of each walking route, you can read about the experiences of others users on this walk and others.There are 11 user reports for this walk - click to read them.

Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

Park at Achnashellach Forest car park, which is signed on the north side of the road at Craig. Walk back down cross the road, following the track opposite across the railway level crossing. The track bends left and heads up the glen. There are great views ahead of Sgurr nan Ceannaichean.

Stage 2

After about a kilometre the track bends right and crosses a bridge over the River Carron. Once across the river the track soon forks; take the left fork, which begins a long climb above the (unseen) Sloc Mor gorge.

Stage 3

As height is gained, a terrific view opens up behind of the Coulin peaks. First to appear is Fuar Tholl on the left, later joined by Sgurr Ruadh and Beinn Liath Mhor. After just over a kilometre another forestry track goes off to the right - ignore this and keep to the main track, with views ahead of the Allt a Chonais gorge. Further on another track goes off right, this time signed for the 'Allt a'Chonais pinewood'; again continue ahead.

Stage 4

The track passes through a gate in a deer fence before reaching the top of a pass just to the left of a knoll. Sgurr Choinnich and Sgurr a'Chaorachain can now be seen ahead at the far end of the flat, treeless valley, but Maoille Lunndaidh still remains out of sight round a corner. Continue on the track, now slightly downhill, which soon comes close to the river. Ignore the path leading to a bridge, which is destined for Sgurr na Feartaig, instead continuing on the track for another couple of kilometres until the track bends left and ascends slightly. A cairn marks where a stalkers path turns off here on the right; ignore this and continue on the track which now swings left. Continue on the track for almost another three kilometres to where it runs along the right hand side of a plantation.

Stage 5

From here, abandon the track and head east across the bogs. There is a deep, slow-moving stream but there are a couple of easy places where it can be crossed. Over a kilometre of very rough, swampy and awkward terrain leads to the Am Crom-allt. Cross this and begin a direct ascent of the slope opposite. This is a hard climb up steep heather but begins to ease at around 800 metres. Continue uphill to reach the rim of the Fuar Tholl Mor corrie with its lower lochan visible far below. Turn right and follow the plateau edge up to the top of Carn nam Fiaclan, with great views down the cliffs all the way.

Photo: Stuart Meek

Stage 6

From here it is a half kilometre stroll to the cairn on the minor summit of Creag Toll a'Choin, and then a further seven hundred metres in a northeasterly direction to reach the true Munro summit, marked by another cairn at 1007 metres. It is possible to vary the route of return by heading slightly west of north to a minor bealach before descending west beside a stream to the foot of the corries. Continue west to rejoin the outward route at the Am Crom-allt.